Bush Kills Child Health Care Bill

Eighteen Republicans joined Democrats to pass a renewal and expansion of health care coverage for needy children.  President Bush has promised to veto the bill, saying it's too expensive and that there are better ways to address the problem of needed health care. 

Some of those Republicans who voted with Democrats to pass the bill said they believed President George W. Bush felt pressure to curb federal spending because the Iraq War and anti-terror programs have already pushed government spending so far into the red. 

But though Senate passage of the child health care bill by a 67-to-29 margin bodes well for chances the Senate will muster enough votes to override a threatened presidential veto, the measure's odds are much less favorable in the House.

There, the measure passed by a vote of 265-to-159 -- not quite the two-thirds vote required to override a presidential veto.

Dubbed SCHIP for short, the State Children's Health Insurance Program would cost about seven billion dollars per year over its five-year life.  Supporters of the measure -- and critics of President Bush's war policy -- point out that equates to only a couple of weeks of the cost of the Iraq War.

The measure's supporters vow, they'll bring it up for passage again and again prior to next year's elections.

Who do you think are the winners and losers in this latest battle between the White House and Capitol Hill?

[Views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of CompuServe, Netscape, any government, agency, or news organization.]

Thanks for your comments !

President George W. Bush vetoed a health care bill backed by many Republicans as well as Democrats, asserting that the measure was a step toward "socialized medicine."  Do you think the president's right?

"If he was going to draw a line on spending, why didn't he draw it seven years ago," asked one commentator, to which his colleague responded that, seven years ago, his Republican colleagues then had a majority in Congress.

What do you think?

[Views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of CompuServe, Netscape, any government, agency, or news organization.]

<<< But what are we going to do about this president?IMPEACH all of his cabinet>>>>

 Well, we just have to bide our time until he's gone, and in the near future, hopefully we can sing that old song, "happy days are here again"....but impeachment isn't a bad idea .

>>Eighteen Republicans joined Democrats to pass a renewal and expansion of health care coverage for needy children.<<

Since you made the statement, or echoed it from some other source, please define "needy children", specifically and totally as such would apply in this proposed bill.

>>Some of those Republicans who voted with Democrats to pass the bill said they believed President George W. Bush felt pressure to curb federal spending because the Iraq War and anti-terror programs have already pushed government spending so far into the red.

Personally, I don't give a rat's a$$ what those Republicans say. I am among the 89% of the American people who hold the Congress (excuse me, congress) in low esteem. Instead of pointing the finger solely at the critical war on terrorism, a legitimate use of federal funds, they should recognize those fingers on their own hands pointing back at them for pi$$ing away mounds of our money buying votes on pure pork. Again, 89% of us think they stink! And this so-called "child health care bill" stinks to high heaven.

>>The State Children's Health Insurance Program would cost about seven billion dollars per year over its five-year life.<<

And you really buy into that figure, right? Bull! You know it's bogus, just like the congressional con artists claim they'll get it all from adding a buck on each pack of smokes. The cost will trimple over night (probably on illegals alone) and as cigarette revenues diminish, they'll be needing tax money from elsewhere for vote buying. I like the way you aid and abet these political skammers without a shred of conscience.

>>Who do you think are the winners and losers in this latest battle between the White House and Capitol Hill?

The American people win if the Bush veto prevails. Personally, I'll be able to keep somewhere in the neighborhood of $1,200 annually of my own money to spend or give away the way I see fit...which would definitely NOT be to political hacks in D.C. to buy votes and power with.